The People's Weapon Check

Failed Dagorhir Weapon Here is a foam weapon that we found while going around on trash day.

With Gorg you have the white Styrofoam tubes, and with silly goose you have shield foam blades. Both of these materials should never be used on weapons. Which one do you think is worse?

It is Wednesday my dudes!
What are you working on?
Tired of weapons check failing your gear for dumb reasons? Want to make your gear fool proof? Post your progress pics and my team and I will help your gear pass.

https://youtu.be/PE8GlPpuLuY?is=219i7WzNi6dr9CRS

Welcome to Fail Friday

The way this is going to work is that users will submit a picture of a failed weapon, along with the reason given by the checker, and my team and I will review the reason it failed to determine whether the weapon checker or the user is at fault. This is designed to be educational and to hold our weapon checkers to a higher standard.

Failed Dagorhir Weapon Here is a foam weapon that we found while going around on trash day.

Accessibility/Ableism/Polarization

Last week I spoke how the overall price of weapons has gone up and how that has made the game much more expensive than what it used to be. Well another way we inhibit accessibility to the game is through our own culture.

Traditionally Belegarth and Dagorhir are prone to this due to them being more physically focused. Which, like any sport, is somewhat understandable, however we are not a traditional sport. We are sport-like/adjacent, which frees up other possibilities for participation. Games such as Amtgard and Darkon do this very well with their character classes, crafting, leadership, and just overall game mechanics. How ever you personally feel about either game above is your own opinion, the fact of the matter is they DO have better accessibility for people to participate unlike bel/dag.

Belegarth reluctantly has adapted somewhat in the last several years with the introduction of the guilds. Allowing for the more crafty, RP, and leadership capable individuals to have a place to go that isnt solely just fighting. Which is fantastic, however other than gear, the attitude towards fighting hasn't really changed much. What do I mean by this?

Well, this is where ableism comes in. Traditionally we expect our fighters to be physically able to be on the field. If theyre not, then usually that means little to no participation from them. However, at any point we can become disabled in some way. Does that mean we should be cast aside? No, we as a community and said individual should find a way for them to participate safely without making people feel left out.

However we cannot purely put the blame of an organization for lacking certain systems. Most games we play are usually some form of confederation or non-profit that simple lacks the manpower and means to install a more proper form of authority to really govern said systems. So really what I am saying is that part of the problem rests with the individual who is capable of making that decision for themselves. Screaming at officials and others within the community doesnt resolve said issues and only furthers divides us. There has to be a level of personal responsibility for you're own actions as well. Be a bridge, not another faux torch bearer.

We as a community are fairly protective of our own, which on one hand is very good, however on the other hand it has its drawbacks. One of those those aspects I have noticed in the greater foam community is we like to create safe spaces for ourselves so we can obtain the power to bully others. Really think about that, I am sure you or someone you know has experienced that in the game. Whether is be from a person, unit, realm, peerage, and even the wider community as a whole. This inherent othering of people is utterly barbaric and tribal and should be put down like the beast it is. Whether it be for a righteous cause or not, it still leads to destructive behaviors and ultimately alienation that induces polarizing effects within the community. Context is always key when navigating said social interactions.

Ask yourself this, is it better to have some people in your community that are a little bit different, than no one at all? If all you are trying to do is to create a vacuum within your own community than you yourself are the problem and need to consider retirement or therapy. This plays for both sides of the aisle.

The game has changed dramatically in the last 10 years, we watched the fall of Dagorhir because they couldn't change when the community demanded it. We cannot repeat the same mistakes of the past. The world is a wheel and we need to learn to break it. Stand up for injustice within our community, and keep moving forward. But do so with context and understanding, not through some polarized view or hearsay. How can you be a bridge when all you want to do is bear the false flame of insecurity and project it on others?

What are some of the ways your community has done to allow for better accessibility within the game? Our team would like to know.

Please like and share ❤️

If you happened to see my earlier post, I mentioned "Carson Carbon", well what is it exactly? Little back story before I can elaborate on it, for about 9-10 years now certain manufacturers have made it very difficult for the community to access carbon fiber cores, even though most just come from Goodwinds.com, a domestic company. Some, even colluded with said company to make it harder for the community to access it, forming a monopoly, and pushing the price of our game way way up for the rest of us. Which is unfair, and dishonors the founders of our game. Thankfully that is where Carson came in, a noble guy who through his research, found a supplier from China for cheaper. Manufactures will use codenames to throw that off and make it look like they are saving the day when in reality its their bottom line. Carson carbon is a fraction of the price of Goodwinds, and is just as good for spears and glaives. Roughly $40-$60 in price compared to over $100 for a core from goodwinds, and that is a low end estimate. So if you've noticed new carbon on the field, thank Carson, and feel free to order for yourselves and your realm.

Here is the link to his website, which is available on:
https://www.whackerdashery.com

Were not saying don't buy gear, its obvious some folks just don't have the time, and that is what boffer manufacturers are for. However, it is our belief that should never be the go-to, and it is our wish for others to take the time and really think about this, and ask the question is this ethical for us? Especially when life is already squeezing us to no end.
If you or your realm require assistance in locating sources for material in building your own weapons and saving money, please please message our team, we are happy to help you find it. In addition If you are a person who believes in this same message, please share, everything helps.

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The Whackerdashery Buy Better, Build Better.

For the same amount of money you spend on stress balls for your poor quality amtgard arrows. You could simply order some 2 inch thick firm charcoal foam. It is the exact same that Gorg uses.
https://www.foambymail.com/product/solid-charcoal-firm-foam.html

The Truth

Thinking about how some boffer manufacturers deliberately hide material resources so they have a monopoly in the game. Our game is supposed to be open source. Example: Carbon

What is the dumbest reason a foam weapon has failed?